Apparatus



` tion on the line Si-taten vARTI-Inn c. ARMENGOL, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

Lette/rs Patent No. 86,722, dated February 9, 1869.

FIN GER-EXERCISIN G- APPARATUS.

To all whom, 4it 'ma/y conce/m:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR G. ARMENGOL, of the city, county, and Stateof Ne'wl York, have invented a new and improved Finger-ExercisingApparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description thereof', which will enable others skilled in theartto make and`use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for exercising the fingers, to fitthem, by rendering the joints more flexible, for playing the piano withgreater ease, and for attaining greater excellence therein.

It consists in the arrangement, upon a board or table, of a set of'pmctising-apparatns, by which the lingers may be exercised in themovements necessary togive them the requisite strength, elasticity, andpliability for attaining greater excellence in the said perfomance.

The said'apparatus may be thusdescribed: First, a.device for practisingtwo lingers in alternate parallel and horizontal movements.

Second, va device for fitting the hands toassume the right positions onthe piano.

Third, a. device for fitting the hands to assume the right position whenthe middle lingers alone are to perform.

Fourth, a device for imparting strength and agility zo either finger',asin the vertical movement of a single nger.

Fifth, a device for imparting strength to the fingers in the ends, andto measure the degree of the same.

Sixth, a device for preparing two lingers to perform v verticalmovements 'alternatelyin opposite directions.

Y In the drawings- Figure l represents a plan view of' my improvements.Figure 2 represents a longitudinal sectional eleva- :z: of lig. 1.

Similar letters of' reference indicate parts.

A represents a table, which may be of any preferred corresponding v sizeand form, for the attachment of' my improved iing'er-exercisingapparatus.

K represents a device for practising two fingers in alternate to-and-fromovements horizontally, consisting of a vibrating lever, K1, attached bysprings, K1,

connected toeach end to any fixed support, and pro-- vided with rings,K3, into each of which a linger' is placed, and moved alternately inhorizontal directions against the action of the springs, therebyexercising the muscles of the fingers inthat manner.

L represents a series of' six spring-touches, and L, a bridge inconnection therewith, four of the said touches being arranged in a row,for the application of the four fingers of either hand, while theothers, L2, are arl ranged sufiiciently in the rear for the application'of the thumbs, one for the right and 'the other for the left thumb. Thebridge L, in front of the four touches L, serves to maintain the fingersat the proper degree of curvature, and thereby the hand suiicientlyabove the level of the key-board, as is .required for this practice,.while thc finger-exercise of pressing down the touches against thesprings is taking place.

M represents a single similar touch, in connection with which is abridge, M', and two linger-guards, M2. The object of this arrangement isto maintain the hand at the proper elevation, and in a stat/e` of rest,while one finger is performing vertical movements,

N represents a ring, or other device, suspended by a spring, for thepractice of pressing down forcibly with one finger while the hand is ina state of rest...

O represents a slide, arranged in horizontal ways, attached'to a lixe'clpoint by a spring, O, and arranged incombination with two finger-guards,Oi,- against which two fingers4 may rest. ,to hold the hand in position,while a third linger' performs a to-and-i'o horizontal practice with theslide O. The ways, in which the slide works, may be provided withascale, on which the movement ofthe finger or the tension ofthe springsmay be measured.

P represents two spring-touches, connected' by a lever, arranged tovibrate on a central axis, compelling one to rise while the other falls,for the purpose of practising vertical movements with two fingersalternately.'

It will be readily observed, without further description, that theabove-described apparatus affords a systern for linger-practice wherebythe learner may readily acquire skill in lingering the. keys, therebygreatly facilitating his progress.-

The order of arrangement of the several devices on the table may bevaried, to suit taste or circumstances.

Having thus described my invention,

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. Thecombination, with the table A, of the vibrat- -ing lever' K, providedwith t'nc rings K3 and ways, and connected by the springs K2 to fixedpoints, substan tially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, with the table A, of the springtouches L Li, andbridge L, substantially as and for the .purpose described.

3. The combination, with the table A, ofthe springtouch M, guards Mi,and bridge M, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The combination, with the table A, of the finger-` piece N, suspendedfrom the bridge N by a spring, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

5. The combination, with the table A, of the slide O,

connected by a spring to a fixed pivot, and provided with ways and theguards Oi, substantially as and f'or the purpose described.

6. The combination, with the table A, of the springtouches P, arrangedsubstantially as and for the purpose described. l

7. The combination, in one apparatus, of the several sets offinger-exercising devices, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

8'. A system of linger-exercising apparatus, substantially such asherein shown and described, and for the purpose specified.

lThe above specification of my invention signed by me, this 26th day ofSeptember, 1868. ARTHUR O. ARMEN GOL.

Witnesses:

FRANK BLocKLEY, E. G. COLLINS.

